Post Move Clean Up

So I am still slowly unpacking things. Which is probably crazy, though I would say 90% of our stuff is unpacked. I am still trying to make decisions on which pictures go where and that sort of thing. I have so much more wall space but for some reason I suddenly feel like all the pictures we have might be too much.

I think partially this sudden fear of having 'too many pictures' is because we had wonderful window ledges in Europe which provided space to put a few pictures without it giving the appearance of over crowding. If my husband and I ever 'settle down' and buy/build a house it WILL have ledges. I LOVE them.

I also saw a recent article that mentioned only framing and displaying the most important photos (like a wedding pictures) which also started making me evaluate what pictures we are displaying. Most of them are favorites but others probably could be switched out. So I might be re-evaluating some of those. Pictures are the toughest. The memories are there but the physical representations are hard to let go of and that is why we all need to keep them.

 Even with skipping the photos I have managed at least two large boxes of stuff to pitch and I have several other rooms left to go. I am so excited and relieved already to get rid of the extra junk. Even though I had de-junked before the move I find this time around I really need to do it after. It has been an amazing realization, for me, personally, to see what I really 'need' and clearly do not.

 So what about you? Do you de-own before or after moving? I'd love to hear from you!

Kay xxx

Virtual Hoarding

I have been in search of ways to simplify in all walks of my life. Then it hit me. One of my biggest hoards isn't cluttering my halls, closets and bedrooms. It's cluttering my computer. My virtual hoard.

I don't know about you, but I use to have SO many bookmarks. Things that I wanted to make sure I saved for later. Then, along came Pinterest. It was amazing. Organized. So like so many people I began pinning almost anything and everything that I could get my hands on. Was it pretty? Pin. Funny? Pin. Looks tasty and master chef level to make or bake? Pin that too!

The other day I realized I had around 40 boards on Pinterest. FORTY! I want to just say, I am in no way knocking those with loads of boards etc. It made me realize though that it is super easy to virtually hoard ideas, pretty things, stuff that just clutters up the stuff I actually want to do via Pinterest or other similar medias. I am currently working on decluttering my Pinterest boards, combining them and removing stuff I won't do anything with or is just a waste. For example, I deleted an entire board planning for my 10th Anniversary 'do over' wedding. My husband and I pretty much were miserable with our wedding and have always wanted to redo it. However, now that mark is only about 2 years away it seems less important. I moved the pins I saved of new wedding bands (which I think we will likely do) and deleted the rest. If we end up renewing our vows, awesome. I will make a board then. If not, no worries. I have been married for 7.5 years, have two kids, and doubt the plans I had are really what I want anymore.

Another virtual hoard in our house is pictures. I can't do anything about that at the moment as our move is underway and most of our electronics with our photos etc are packed and shipped. However, I save all pictures, even bad ones. We have spent the last few years traveling and of course you have to take a picture of every.single.thing least you forget it. I am hoping to work towards either making prints, photo albums or deleting some of the space but it's difficult. I love photography and my husband loves having photos. However, the fact I have an emotional response to deleting poor quality photos of my daughters, or of a place we have been shows the level of attachment that I don't feel I should have at all. Why am I so attached to a blurry photo of my kids? You can't even see what is going on!

So in an attempt to de-clutter my virtual space I have made goals. For example, I only pin non-hobby crafts if I actually plan to do them and then date them and have 6 months (at the moment that time frame could change) and if it doesn't get done, delete. On the flip side of that I am an active yarn crafter (knitting and crochet) and I sew so I have left those boards alone for now. Stuff with helpful information for others (or myself) stays at the moment as well. For example, my breastfeeding, cloth diapers and baby wearing boards all have information that can help others and promotes them so no deletes there.

How do you keep a handle on your virtual 'stuff'? Do you at all? Do you find things like Pinterest overwhelming or a helpful tool?

Kay xxx

Little House

Last night I watched a fantastic little documentary called Tiny. If you are not familiar with the idea of a 'little house' it is pretty straight forward. It is living in a home that is, well, little. I think by definition around 200sqft or less. I have to admit being in love and frighted with the idea. It REALLY appeals to me. I find that naturally the little house movement goes hand in hand with the ideals of minimalism, I mean, you can't have a TON of stuff if you are living in the space that is the size of some peoples walk-in closets.

Anyway, the concept of smaller not larger has been something I have been really playing with for awhile now. I think the problem with most houses is poor design. I firmly believe I could live in a tiny space if it was designed the right way. I have been slowly sharing that my ideals, and ideas about housing are changing to my husband. I am not sure he really understood what I meant until he watched the film with me last night.

While I don't think either of us are ready to dump our things and live in 200sqft (truthfully I haven't seen too many people with kids do this) I have stopped thinking that my life and it's success has to do with how large my home is and how much stuff I have in it. It is the mindset. One day, if we aren't military, we hope to build a home, or perhaps buy one. I think that depending on where our family is we, for the first time ever, will not be dreaming up a 2500sqft home. That, in its self, is so much growth for us as a couple.

So, what room could you really do without? Do you have a room in your home that you are almost never actually living in? Or perhaps it's a room totally dedicated to housing stuff that you never use. Do you have a guest room but never have guests? It's amazing what we could truthfully do without if we really thought about it.

Kay xxx

Introductions

Hiya,
  I feel the need to introduce myself. This is not my first my blog. In fact you can find that I have been blogging for almost 7 years since I said "I do" to my sweet husband. Anyway, I am Korey. I wear many hats including mother and military spouse but this blog is to document a new journey I am on; Minimalism and intentional, simple living.

 I was introduced to the idea of minimalism about two years ago when I stumbled across Project 333. My oldest daughter was just under one and I had lost the baby weight but my body was totally different. I had tons of weird and I'll fitting clothes. So I gave it a try. I didn't end up sticking to it long term but it helped me part with junk in my closet.

 Over the last few years I have been looking into minimalism and just physically yearning to give it a go. It was hard realization that my typical frugal attitude had slide for awhile but I have had a lot of conviction of faith on the matter along with the desire to just make my own life easier as a mom of two young children. Now my family is about to move around 8,000 mile and it seems like a golden opportunity to lighten our load. This will be a documentation of the journey. I am excited and I hope you will be too!


Kay xxx